GSW Sir Busker Heads to Turf at Saudi Cup Fixture

Trainer William Knight confirmed GSW Sir Busker (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) will bypass the Saudi World Cup in favor of the 10-furlong G3 Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh Feb. 25.

According to Knight, keeping the 7-year-old on the turf was the main deciding factor in settling on the gelding's next appearance.

“We have talked long and hard about this, which one to go for? I promise you it has changed daily!” said Knight. “I've spoken to a couple of the jockeys about the dirt out there and taken advice from a few people. It's a really hard one because it is such an amazing opportunity to run for that sort of money in the Saudi Cup.”

“I just feel now that the trip will really suit him. We know he goes well on the turf, just looking at the entries for both races, I think we have a better chance of being in the first three in the Neom than we would on the dirt.”

Enjoying his best season in 2022, Sir Busker concluded the year with a victory in the G2 York S. and a third behind Baaeed in the G1 Juddmonte at the same track last August. The Irish-bred finished second under Ryan Moore in the Feb. 4 Listed Tandridge S.

“Ryan will ride Sir Busker,” confirmed Knight. “Ben Curtis has done very well on him but we didn't know if he was going to be back and riding fit in time for him, he's out for a long time with a shoulder injury.”

He added, “This is why Ryan rode him at Lingfield the other day, to get a feel of him because he's never ridden him before and with a view to riding him in the Neom.”

Another factor in the decision to keep Sir Busker on the turf is his recent propensity for tardy exits from the stalls.

“He has been slowly away and though we are doing stalls work with him, if he does face the kickback on the dirt, he'll have never really encountered that,” he said. “As much as the money is very, very tempting, I think we've sided with the turf.”

He continued, “We need to address it, I purposely hadn't over the winter because I just thought it was something he had got into at the end of the season.

“His last couple of runs he was just slightly slowly away. I'm glad we ran him at Lingfield the other day, we just needed to blow the cobwebs out but you wouldn't want that to happen at the meeting in the three weeks time.”

“We're going to address it this week–we've got [stalls specialist] Craig Witheford booked [this week] to make sure it doesn't happen again.”

The post GSW Sir Busker Heads to Turf at Saudi Cup Fixture appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Chestnut and IMP Graphics to Co-Sponsor William Knight Racing

Chester and Inventive Media Publishing (IMP Graphics) are the new co-sponsors of William Knight Racing, the yard announced on Tuesday. Chestnut founder and Chief Executive Philip Turner and IMP Graphics Managing Director Simon Mitchell revealed the new yard kit on the Newmarket gallops.

William Knight, said, “This is fantastic news for the yard. We are delighted Chestnut and IMP have decided to sponsor us. We strongly believe the partnership will be beneficial to all parties.”

Chestnut operates 14 East Anglian properties, among them award-winning pubs, inns and restaurants. Chestnut Chief Executive Philip Turner said, “This is an exciting partnership for Chestnut. It will enable us to engage with those directly connected to the yard, whilst also reaching out to the wider community of horseracing fans.”

Added IMP Graphics Managing Director Simon Mitchell, “An opportunity like this doesn't always present itself, so we are delighted we can forge this partnership with William Knight Racing. It's our way of putting something back into the thoroughbred community by supporting a local yard with whom we've had a long-standing relationship. It also affords us an opportunity to showcase the services and products that we can offer the industry as a whole.”

The post Chestnut and IMP Graphics to Co-Sponsor William Knight Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights